Most of us know the heart is the centerpiece of the cardiovascular system, and the kidneys play a vital role in the urinary system, filtering wastes and helping remove excess fluid from your body. But what you might not know is that these organs are actually closely connected — and when one isn’t working as well as it should, the other often feels the impact.
Understanding this relationship can help you better protect your overall health, especially if you have heart disease or kidney disease, or you‘re at risk for either. In recognition of American Heart Month, the team at Houston Kidney Specialists Center offers this quick overview exploring this unique but critical relationship, so you can play a more proactive role in maintaining your overall health.
As noted, your kidneys work hard as your body’s filtration system, removing wastes, toxins, and excess fluid from your blood so it can be removed from your body through urination. This filtration system is highly complex, and like any organ, your kidneys depend on a steady supply of oxygen to keep that system functional.
If your heart’s activity is compromised, circulation changes, too, and that can have an indirect impact on how well your kidneys work. Less circulation means your kidneys receive less oxygen and nutrients to maintain their own health, which means it’s harder for your kidneys to filter wastes and fluids from your blood.
Fluid and waste products build up in your tissues, instead, leading to fluid retention and swelling, electrolyte imbalances, increased blood pressure, and, over time, an increased risk of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. It’s easy to see, then, that keeping your heart healthy and maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system is essential for helping your kidneys do their job.
While your heart activity promotes normal kidney function, your kidneys return the favor by providing a better environment for your heart and vascular system. In fact, your kidneys play a major role in regulating blood pressure, one of the most important factors in heart health.
By controlling levels of sodium and fluid, your kidneys help maintain a healthy pressure inside your blood vessels, achieving and maintaining an optimal balance for oxygen and nutrient delivery throughout the body.
On the other hand, if kidney function falters, blood pressure tends to rise. High blood pressure forces your heart to work harder, increasing the risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. Over time, this added strain can even weaken the heart muscle permanently.
At the same time, your kidneys help regulate hormones involved in red blood cell production and blood vessel function. When kidney function declines, these activities are disrupted, too, further increasing cardiovascular risk if not managed properly and promptly.
Diabetes and high blood pressure each affect millions of people, and for many, they occur together, putting added stress and strain on both your kidneys and your heart. This “combination” is often referred to as cardiorenal syndrome, a bidirectional condition where the health of one system directly influences the health and function of the other. Without careful treatment, this cycle can progress quickly.
People with cardiorenal syndrome typically experience symptoms like:
Because these symptoms are shared by other conditions, early evaluation is crucial for making sure you receive prompt and appropriate care. Coordinated care that addresses both heart and kidney health can slow disease progression, improve symptoms, and support better long-term health and wellness, too.
Typically, treatment involves a combination of lifestyle changes and medical treatment to manage high blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Our team uses a patient-centered, tailored approach to provide truly individualized treatment for every patient.
There’s no denying that the interrelationship between your heart and your kidneys is essential for good health and wellness overall, especially as you age. If you have hypertension, heart disease, or kidney problems, proactive care becomes even more critical.
To learn more about what you can do to keep your kidneys healthy and functioning or to schedule a kidney evaluation, request an appointment online or over the phone at our practice locations in Cypress and Houston, Texas, today.
